The Office of the President (OP) on Wednesday said it respects the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to postpone the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections, which were scheduled to take place less than two weeks from now.
In a statement, the OP recognized the ruling as ‘a pivotal step in ensuring that the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections will be conducted on the firmest constitutional and legal foundations.’
‘The Palace underscores its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the peace process, strengthening democratic institutions, and protecting the political rights of all citizens in the Bangsamoro,’ it also said. The Marcos administration will also extend its full support to all constitutionally mandated institutions to ensure that the democratic aspirations of the Bangsamoro people are realized in accordance with the Constitution and the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the OP said.
This, it emphasized, is part of the ongoing national effort to achieve just and lasting peace in Mindanao.
In its ruling, the SC declared that the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 77 (BAA 77), along with its predecessor, BAA 58, is unconstitutional, thereby necessitating the postponement of the October 13 polls.
BAA 77, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025, is the law that redistributes the seven seats originally allocated to Sulu.
On the other hand, its predecessor, BAA 58, created the parliamentary districts in the region.
‘There can be no BARMM elections on October 13, 2025, because of the lack of a valid district law,’ the Supreme Court, through its Spokesperson, Atty. Camille Ting said.